Access and Orientation

How to travel between Marugame and Tokyo

By air

The closest airport to Marugame is Takamatsu Airport. JAL and ANA operate multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Takamatsu Airport. Travel duration is 80 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 34,000 yen, but discount tickets are usually available for around 13,000 to 26,000 yen. Furthermore, Jetstar Japan is operating flights between Tokyo's Narita Airport and Takamatsu at considerably lower fares, that typically start around 4000 yen one way.

From Takamatsu Airport, take the bus to Takamatsu Station (40 minutes, 760 yen one way), from where hourly JR limited express trains depart for Marugame (25 minutes, 1070 yen by unreserved seat). Alternatively, take one of the frequent local JR trains which take about 25-40 minutes and cost 550 yen one way.

By daytime trains

Take the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Okayama and transfer to a JR Nampu or Shiokaze limited express train to Marugame. The entire journey takes around 4 hours and costs about 18,000 yen one way. The trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass if using Hikari and Sakura trains along the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, but takes about 30-60 minutes longer than if using a Nozomi train. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

By night train

Daily JR Sunrise Seto overnight trains connect Tokyo with Sakaide Station from where you can take a local train one stop to Marugame Station. The entire journey takes about 9.5 hours and requires advance reservations. The night train carries private compartments (from 20,000 yen per person one way) and carpeted "nobi nobi" floor space compartments (from 14,500 yen per person one way).

Japan Rail Pass holders need to pay a supplement starting from 10,000 yen for using a private compartment on board of the Sunrise Seto. The "nobi nobi" compartments, however, are fully covered by the pass.

How to travel between Marugame and Kyoto

By train

Take the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Kyoto to Okayama Station. From there take the JR Marine Liner rapid train to Sakaide where you can transfer to a local train to Marugame. The entire journey takes around two hours and costs about 9,500 yen. The trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass if using Sakura and Hikari trains on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, but takes up to 45 minutes longer than if using a Nozomi train. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

By bus via Osaka

Shikoku Highway Bus and JR Shikoku Bus operate multiple highway buses between Marugame Station and Osaka (Hankyu Umeda Station) near Kyoto (how to travel between Kyoto and Osaka). The one way trip between Osaka and Marugame takes about four hours and costs 4200 yen. A round trip ticket is available for 7500 yen and must be used within ten days.

By bus via Takamatsu

Several companies operate highway buses between Kyoto Station and Takamatsu. The one way trip takes about 3.5 hours and costs 4950 yen. A round trip ticket is available for 9000 yen and must be used within ten days. From Takamatsu, Marugame can be reached by JR limited express train (20 minutes, 1070 yen by unreserved seat, one train/hour) or local train (40 minutes, 550 yen, 2-5 trains/hour).

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How to travel between Marugame and Osaka

By train

Take the JR Sanyo Shinkansen from Osaka (Shin-Osaka Station) to Okayama Station. From there take the JR Marine Liner rapid train to Sakaide where you can transfer to a local train to Marugame. The entire journey takes around 100 minutes and costs about 7,500 yen. The trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass if using a Sakura or Hikari train along the Sanyo Shinkansen. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

By bus

Shikoku Highway Bus and JR Shikoku Bus operate multiple highway buses between Osaka (OCAT, Hankyu Umeda Station) and Marugame. The one way trip takes about four hours and costs 4200 yen. A round trip ticket is available for 7500 yen and must be used within ten days.

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How to travel between Marugame and Okayama

Okayama and Marugame are connected by direct JR Nampu and Shiokaze limited express trains. The one way trip takes around 45 minutes and costs 1530 yen by unreserved seat. There are 1-2 departures per hour. Alternatively, take the JR Marine Liner rapid train (1-2 per hour) from Okayama to Sakaide and transfer to a local train to Marugame. The journey takes about 1 hour and costs 980 yen.

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How to travel between Marugame and Takamatsu

Takamatsu and Marugame are connected by hourly JR limited express trains. The one way trip takes around 20 minutes and costs 1070 yen by unreserved seat. Alternatively, take one of the frequent local JR trains which take about 40 minutes and cost 550 yen. There are 2-5 departures per hour.

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How to travel between Marugame and Tokyo

By air

The closest airport to Marugame is Takamatsu Airport. JAL and ANA operate multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Takamatsu Airport. Travel duration is 80 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 34,000 yen, but discount tickets are usually available for around 13,000 to 26,000 yen. Furthermore, Jetstar Japan is operating flights between Tokyo's Narita Airport and Takamatsu at considerably lower fares, that typically start around 4000 yen one way.

From Takamatsu Airport, take the bus to Takamatsu Station (40 minutes, 760 yen one way), from where hourly JR limited express trains depart for Marugame (25 minutes, 1070 yen by unreserved seat). Alternatively, take one of the frequent local JR trains which take about 25-40 minutes and cost 550 yen one way.

By daytime trains

Take the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Okayama and transfer to a JR Nampu or Shiokaze limited express train to Marugame. The entire journey takes around 4 hours and costs about 18,000 yen one way. The trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass if using Hikari and Sakura trains along the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, but takes about 30-60 minutes longer than if using a Nozomi train. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

By night train

Daily JR Sunrise Seto overnight trains connect Tokyo with Sakaide Station from where you can take a local train one stop to Marugame Station. The entire journey takes about 9.5 hours and requires advance reservations. The night train carries private compartments (from 20,000 yen per person one way) and carpeted "nobi nobi" floor space compartments (from 14,500 yen per person one way).

Japan Rail Pass holders need to pay a supplement starting from 10,000 yen for using a private compartment on board of the Sunrise Seto. The "nobi nobi" compartments, however, are fully covered by the pass.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current yen exchange rate, click here.

Orientation

Central Marugame is compact and walkable. The city's main attractions and Marugame Port are all within a 15 minute walk from Marugame Station. Marugame Port offers ferry connections to Honjima Island, while the other islands off the coast can be reached by a combination of train, bus and ferry from Marugame Station. Please see each island's page for more details about how to get there: